Chemical-mixing device



E. F. MERCER.

' CHEMICAL MIXING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED sin-24. ml.

1,386,519. Patenwuugz, 1921.

PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST F. MERCER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

CHEMICAL-MIXING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2, 1921,

Application filed September 24, 1917. Serial No. 192,948.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST F. MERGER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chemical-Mixing Devices, of which the following is a speclfication.

This invention relates to agitators and it is the principal object of the invention to provide a chemical mixing device for use by photographers in preparing chemical developing solutions; obviating the necesslty of employing the usual stirring implement which not only requires considerable time for the proper mixing of the chemicals but is frequently broken or accidentally strikes the jar from which the chemicals are being poured, breaking the same and wasting its contents.

Among other aims and objects of the 1nvention may be recited, the provision of a device of the character mentioned with a view to compactness, and in which the number of parts are few, the construction simple, the cost of production small, and efliciency and operation high.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claim.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown one of various possible embodiments of my invention,

Figure 1 is a side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the adjusting catch;

Fig. 3 is a disassembled,perspectivein detail showing the relative arrangement of the adjusting catch and shank.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having more particular reference to the drawings, 1 represents the circular top of the mixing device, the said top serving as a support for the agitating means or dasher and the means for transmitting power thereto, hereinafter more fully described. A squared shank 2 is arranged in proximity of the peripheral edges of the circular top 1 and is provlded with a plurality of spaced notches 3.

As means for receiving the squared shank 2, I provide a tubular guide element 4:, the sa1d element corresponding in cross section to the shape of the shank 2 and being provided with an opening 5 through which the free end of a pivotal spring catch 6 arranged on the tubular guide 2 may be passed into engagement with certain of the notches 3. IJaterally extending apertured flanges 7 are formed upon the tubular guide element 2 and permit the securing of the same to a fixed support.

A shaft 8 has one end thereof squared as at 9 in order that a pinion 1O rotatably mounted on the top can be detachably engaged. therewith by means of a set screw 10 turned into engagement with a suitable screw threaded bore formed in the bearing collar of the pinion 10. Meshing with the pinion 10 1s a power transmitting gear 11, the same carrying a handle 12 and being mounted upon a suitable stub-shaft journaled in bearings on the top 1.

Upon the lower extremity of the shaft 8 a perforate dasher 13 is mounted and, obviously, serves as the means for agitating the chemical solution upon rotation.

If desired, a shelf or other suitable support may be and preferably is arranged directly beneath the top 1, serving as means for supporting the solution containing jar 14:, thus, the top 1 may be lowered into engagement with the jar 14 by disengaging the catch 6 from the lowermost notch 3 and allowing the squared shank to move downwardly through the tubular guide element 4 until the cap engages the uppermost notch 3.

To permit pouring of the chemicals into the jar 14, an opening 15 is formed in the top 1 and is adapted to receive one end of a funnel therein.

In operation, the jar 14: is arranged upon the shelf beneath the raised top 1, and, as above stated, the top is then lowered over the jar, the dasher 13 is rotated through the medium of the gear 12, whereupon the chemicals are slowly poured through the opening 15 into the said jar, the same, 'as will be readily understood, being instantly mixed, due to the high velocity at which the dasher 13 is rotated.

With my improved chemical mixing apparatus, it will be appreciated that I eliminat the necessity of the objectionable hand stirring implement, which as hereinbefore stated, gives rise to numerousdifliculties. Further, since the dasher shaft 8 is detachably engaged with the pinion 10,- the same may be readily removed and another shaft carrying a different form or size of dasher substituted therefor.

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of considerable modification and such modification as is within the scope of my claim, I consider within the spirit of my invention.

I claim In an apparatus of the class described a supporting structure including an upstanding member carrying a laterally extending receptacle supporting shelf, a tubular vertically disposed guide fixed to saidstructure above said shelf and overhanging the shelf,

said guide being angular in cross section and having an opening in one corner, a vertically movable cover, a standard carried by said cover and of the same cross sectional contour as said guide being provided at one corner with a plurality of ratchet-like notches, said standard being slidably mounted in said guide and the notches in this standard positioned to register with the opening in the guide, and a spring pressed laterally swinging catch mounted on the guide and having a nose extending into-the opening thereof for engagement with one of said notches to lock the standard in adjusted position relative to theguide and thereby hold the cover in adjusted position. 7

In testimony whereof I 'aflix my signature hereto.

ERNEST F. MERCER. 

